Our thoughts are with the student who was injured, her loved ones and all those affected by this incident.

Counseling and support resources are available for students, faculty and staff who may need assistance. Counseling services are available through the UCA Counseling Center at (501) 450-3138 or uca.edu/counseling.

The safety and well-being of our campus community remain our highest priorities. We appreciate the swift response of campus officials and law enforcement. Updates will be shared as appropriate through official university channels.

We ask that you support one another with care and understanding in the days ahead.

Houston Davis
President

Kyle Urban of Siloam Springs has received a Fulbright U.S. Student Program award to spend next year in Spain as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant.

51��¥ graduating senior Kyle Urban of Siloam Springs, Arkansas, has received a Fulbright U.S. Student Program award for the 2026-2027 academic year from the U.S. Department of State. Urban, a May 2026 graduate who majored in linguistics with minors in Spanish, computer science, and honors interdisciplinary studies, will spend next year in Spain as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA).

“It is important, now more than ever, that we look to our global communities and say, ‘How do we leave it better than we found it?’” Urban said. “This principle is what guided me through my time here at UCA.

“When I arrive in Galicia, I will continue this cycle. I hope to expand Model United Nations learning opportunities to my future students in Spain and give them an English language education on par with the magnitude of support I myself have received.”

Urban is one of over 1,000 U.S. scholars who will teach abroad in 2026-2027 as recipients of the Fulbright ETA Award. In addition to the ETA program, Fulbright offers opportunities for scholars of all levels to participate in scholarly exchange and conduct research projects abroad. Recipients of Fulbright awards are selected in a merit-based competition that considers academic and professional achievement, as well as their record of service and leadership potential.

Throughout his time at UCA, Urban was a student leader in Model United Nations, the Linguistics Club and the Autism Neurodiversity Alliance. He also served as a peer mentor in the Norbert O. Schedler Honors College and as a representative on the Honors Council, among other campus involvement and leadership roles.

Established in 1946 under legislation introduced by the late U.S. Sen. J. William Fulbright of Arkansas, the Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The primary source of funding for the Fulbright Program is an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Participating governments, host institutions, corporations, and foundations in foreign countries and in the United States also provide direct and indirect support. Recipients of Fulbright grants are selected on the basis of academic or professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential in their fields. The Program operates in over 160 countries worldwide.

Tymera Marsh, UCA Internships and Cooperative Education 2025-26 Intern of the Year

Tymera Marsh has been named the 51��¥ Internships and Cooperative Education 2025-26 Intern of the Year.

The Intern of the Year award recognizes students who have distinguished themselves through exemplary performance that surpassed standard internship expectations and gained meaningful experiences that enhanced both their academic journey and their career trajectory.

Marsh, a senior majoring in Marketing and minoring in Computer Information Systems, earned this recognition through an exceptional internship experience at Apptegy, a Little Rock-based SaaS company specializing in school-community communication.

Marsh served as a Client Experience Intern within Apptegy’s Client Success division, where she supported more than 2,000 shared client accounts. Her responsibilities included content migration, website design improvements, data accuracy updates and guiding clients through technical processes. Her most significant contribution came when she independently identified a gap in an existing client workflow and took complete ownership of redesigning it.

Working on behalf of the client, Marsh led a multiphase project, coordinated team meetings, created instructional recordings and strategically delegated tasks, resulting in restored client trust and improved overall client sentiment. The project drew high praise from Apptegy’s Vice President of Client Experience Ashley Coleman, who described Marsh as “a natural leader” who exemplified initiative, drive and originality. Impressed by her performance, Apptegy has offered Marsh a full-time position upon her graduation.

Marsh credits her growth to Apptegy’s collaborative culture and her mentor and says the experience entirely transformed her professional outlook.

The inaugural cohort of the U.S. Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps flight program at the UCA Aviation Academy graduated in July 2025.

The 51��¥ Aviation Academy will again partner with the U.S. Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) to host cadets for a competitive flight training program this summer.

51��¥ is one of only six universities nationwide selected for the 2026 program. The university’s selection reflects the success of its inaugural year and its ability to operate the program with minimal external support. Eight cadets will train at UCA from June 10 to Aug. 7 as part of the intensive summer program.

“We are proud to once again be selected as a host university for this highly competitive program,” Brad Teague, director of the UCA Aviation Academy, said. “Being chosen as one of only six sites nationwide speaks to the strength of our program and the success we demonstrated last year.

“This opportunity continues to expand access to aviation training while strengthening our role in preparing the next generation of pilots.”

Through the program, AFJROTC cadets from across the country are competitively selected to attend an aviation training experience at accredited universities for approximately eight weeks. Participants can earn college credit and work toward their Private Pilot License while gaining firsthand exposure to careers in aviation.

The program, established in 2018, is designed to address the growing demand for pilots while increasing accessibility to aviation careers for high school students.

Air Force Junior ROTC is a Title 10 U.S. Code-mandated citizenship training program that is designed to educate and train high school cadets in citizenship, promote community service, and instill personal responsibility, character, and self-discipline. The program achieves this through classroom education in air and space fundamentals and hands-on learning opportunities in a number of fun and challenging co-curricular activities.

Cadets who choose to continue their education may receive special consideration for Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) scholarships. Many of these scholarships will pay for two, three, or four years of tuition, books and fees at numerous universities and colleges and allow cadets to pursue studies in various technical and non-technical majors.

The UCA Aviation Academy offers new classes every three months. Multiple pilot certifications are available, including Private, Commercial and Instructor licenses and Instrument and Multi-engine ratings. Discovery flights are available for those considering enrolling in the program.

More information, including how to apply, is available at uca.edu/aviation or by contacting Brad Teague, director of UCA Aviation Academy for 51��¥ Outreach and Community Engagement, at (501) 450-5244 or bteague@uca.edu.

UCA camps provide dynamic, hands-on experiences designed to spark creativity, build skills and encourage exploration in a fun and supportive environment. With programming offered throughout the summer, participants can choose from a variety of interest areas, including music, art, robotics, computer programming, foreign language, writing, athletics, strength and conditioning, Model United Nations and more.

“Give your child a strong and inspiring start in their musical journey with our fantastic piano camp,” Christine Franklin, senior lecturer in the Department of Music and organizer of the UCA Piano Camp, said. “Through fun, motivating and skill-building activities, students will grow in confidence and knowledge.

“It is the perfect opportunity for your child to strengthen valuable skills while experiencing the joy of making music with others.”

Families can explore camps by age group and interest, making it easy to find the right fit for each student. Camps are held on the UCA campus and led by university faculty, coaches and staff, providing participants with a unique opportunity to experience a collegiate environment.

“At UCA’s AI, Robotics and Ethics Camp, students do more than learn about artificial intelligence – they build it,” William Slaton, associate dean of the College of Science and Engineering, said. “Campers work in teams to design and train self-driving robot cars while exploring real-world ethical questions shaping today’s technology.”

Camps are available throughout the summer, with flexible options to accommodate a variety of schedules. Early registration is encouraged, as space may be limited for select programs.

The full list of camps and registration information is available at uca.edu/camps.

Additional information is available by contacting Trent Reese, camp and event coordinator, Conference Services, Outreach and Community Engagement, at (501) 450-5272 or camps@uca.edu.

The 51��¥ will hold spring commencement on Thursday and Friday, April 30 and May 1, 2026. All ceremonies will be held at the Farris Center and will be livestreamed.

The university will confer 986 undergraduate degrees and certificates and 324 graduate degrees and certificates from the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; College of Business; College of Education; College of Health and Behavioral Sciences; College of Science and Engineering; and the Graduate School.

Commencement ceremonies will be held at the following times:

Thursday, April 30

• Graduate School Spring Commencement Ceremony (all colleges) – 5 p.m.

Friday, May 1
Undergraduate Spring Commencement Ceremonies

• College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences – 9 a.m.
• College of Business and College of Education – noon.
• College of Health and Behavioral Sciences (Exercise Science, Health Sciences, Nutrition and Family Sciences, Psychology and Counseling) – 3 p.m.
• College of Health and Behavioral Sciences (Nursing, Communications Sciences and Disorders) & College of Science and Engineering – 6 p.m.

Students receiving the President’s Medallion for Outstanding Student of the University for 2025-26 are:

• Connor Atkinson from the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. Atkinson, a native of Harrison, is completing a Bachelor of Science in Sociology and will be attending graduate school to continue his education. He is the son of Terra and Richard Atkinson.
• Mason Smith from the College of Business. Smith, a native of Harrison, is completing a Bachelor of Business Administration with double majors in Finance and Insurance & Risk Management, and will begin a full-time position with Simmons Bank’s Banker Foundation program in May. He is the son of Don and Brenda Smith.
• Cicely Verzani from the College of Education. Verzani, a native of Pea Ridge, is completing a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and plans to return to Pea Ridge and teach at a primary school in the area. She is the daughter of Jason and Renee Verzani.
• Abigail Simpson from the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences. Simpson, a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, is completing a Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sport Science and plans to attend the Doctorate of Physical Therapy program at the University of Oklahoma. She is the daughter of Bret and Teri Simpson.
• Cole Morrison from the College of Science and Engineering. Morrison, a native of Conway, is completing a Bachelor of Science in Physics and plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Medical Physics. He is the son of James and Angela Morrison.

More information about spring commencement is available at .

The 51��¥ honored outstanding faculty and staff during the 73rd annual Faculty & Staff Recognition Celebration Tuesday, April 14.

Ashley Phillips, Department of Accounting, received the Public Service Award, which recognizes individuals whose service contributions to the UCA community, professional community and outside communities have been exceptional. Through service work such as volunteering for charitable organizations, serving on advisory boards, donating professional expertise, serving on committees and conducting outreach programs, honorees have improved conditions within the community and enhanced the quality of life for all citizens. Nykela Jackson, Department of Teaching and Learning, and Will Slaton, Department of Physics, Astronomy, and Engineering, were finalists for the award.

Hal Halvorson, Department of Biology, received the Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Award, which recognizes individuals whose contributions to their disciplines have been exemplary. Through original work in research, scholarship or creative activities – such as performances and artistic productions – they have expanded human knowledge, interpreted the human experience or enhanced quality of life. Louis Nadelson, Department of Leadership Studies, was the finalist for the award.

Anna Park, Department of Psychology and Counseling, received the Teaching Excellence Award, which is given to faculty who have consistently demonstrated exceptional performance in teaching. Recipients of this award strive to enhance student learning as they continually seek ways to improve their teaching. Ben Cash, Department of Biology, and Matthew Taylor, Department of Music, were finalists for the award.

Sandra Childress, director of Student Health, was named the 2025-2026 UCA Employee of the Year. The Employee of the Year is presented to a full-time staff member who has shown extraordinary performance to the university community over the past year and who goes above and beyond in their care for students, colleagues and UCA. Any full-time staff member with two or more years of continuous service to the university prior to Jan. 1 of the award year is eligible. Leila Dickinson, Academic Advising, and Amanda Paladino, Office of the Registrar, were finalists for the award.

Juan Maefield, Department of History, received the Student Advocacy Award, a newly established initiative of the Office of Student Advocacy and Community created to recognize individuals who demonstrate a sustained commitment to advancing the retention and holistic success of students. Travis Johnson, Division of Student Affairs; Stephanie Rose, Department of Health Sciences; and Susan Shaw, Department of Computer Information Systems & Analytics, were finalists for the award.

Ginny Adams, Department of Biology, was honored with the Shumaker-Wright Mentorship Award, which the University Honors Council created in 2022 to recognize the importance of supporting undergraduate research, scholarship and creative activity. Supporting student participation in mentored research is an important component of the university’s mission. The award is named in honor of Conrad Shumaker and Terry Wright, who had each mentored more than 20 undergraduate student capstone/thesis projects at the time of their retirements. Jeremy Lusk, Department of Physics, Astronomy and Engineering; Marsha Massey, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry; and J.J. McIntyre, School of Communication, were finalists for the award.

Retirees and Employees of the Quarter were also honored during the ceremony.

United States Air Force Band – Airmen of Note

The 51��¥ is proud to host the United States Air Force Band – Airmen of Note for a free concert at Reynolds Performance Hall Thursday, April 23, at 7 p.m.

The Airmen of Note, the U.S. Air Force’s premier jazz ensemble, will be on a spring tour through Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana from April 23 to May 1.

The Airmen of Note, stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., is one of six musical ensembles that form the U.S. Air Force Band. Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Miller’s Army Air Forces dance band, the current band consists of 18 active-duty musicians, including one vocalist. Through the years, the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band and contemporary jazz forms to audiences via annual tours across the United States, deployments worldwide and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington, D.C.

As part of the U.S. Air Force Band, the Airmen of Note’s mission is to honor those who have served, inspire American citizens to heightened patriotism and service, and connect with the global community on behalf of the U.S. Air Force and the United States.

The concert is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. Tickets can be reserved at .

Jason Treuting, Josh Quillen, Eric Cha-Beach, Adam Sliwinski. Photo/Anja Schutz

The 51��¥ Public Appearances, in conjunction with the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Artists in Residence program, will present Sō Percussion Saturday, April 11, at 7 p.m. at the Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts.

For 25 years and counting, Grammy-winning percussion quartet Sō Percussion has redefined chamber music for the 21st century. They are celebrated by audiences and presenters for a dazzling range of work: for live performances in which “telepathic powers of communication” (The New York Times) bring to life the vibrant percussion repertoire; for an extravagant array of collaborations in classical music, pop, indie rock, contemporary dance and theater; and for their work in education and community-building, seeking to explore the immense possibility of art.

To celebrate its 25th anniversary season, Sō Percussion released “25×25” on Cantaloupe Music in September 2025, an eight-disc box set featuring 500 minutes of entirely new and previously unreleased recordings of 21st century music, each piece written for, in collaboration with and premiered by Sō Percussion.

Along with “25×25,” Sō has a catalog of more than 30 albums featuring landmark recordings of works by David Lang, Steve Reich, Julia Wolfe, Caroline Shaw, Steven Mackey, Bobby Previte, Matmos and many others.

Rooted in the belief that music is an elemental form of human communication, and galvanized by forces for social change, Sō enthusiastically pursues a range of social and community outreach through their nonprofit umbrella, including an ongoing partnership with Pan in Motion; the Sō Laboratories concert series; a studio residency program in Brooklyn; and the Sō Percussion Summer Institute, an intensive two-week chamber music seminar for percussionists and composers they have led annually since 2009. The members of Sō Percussion are the Edward T. Cone Performers-in-Residence at Princeton University – a role they have held for more than a decade.

Sō Percussion is Jason Treuting, Adam Sliwinski, Josh Quillen and Eric Cha-Beach.

UCA Public Appearances has continued to grow each year and now offers five unique series: Broadway, POPS, Night Out, An Evening With, and the Windgate Collection. Reynolds Performance Hall has also welcomed over 70,000 pre-K-12th grade students from across the state of Arkansas to experience live performing arts through the Main Stage Education Series. This series educates while entertaining and provides arts accessibility to all students.

Tickets range from $23 to $46 for adults and $11.50 for children/students. Prices for tickets are all in. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at the Reynolds box office or Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts box office Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., online at uca.edu/publicappearances, or by calling UCA Ticket Central at (501) 450-3265 or toll free at (866) 810-0012. Student and children’s tickets are only available by contacting the box office.

Tom Gordon, co-founder and CEO of Slim Chickens

The 51��¥ (UCA) College of Business has announced Tom Gordon, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Slim Chickens, as this year’s Davis Lecture Series Speaker. Gordon will present Tuesday, April 7, at 1:40 p.m. in the UCA College of Business Auditorium in Conway, Arkansas.

Gordon provides personal and tailored support for franchisees in a rapidly growing system, and he is the driving leader behind the brand’s goal to have a 600-unit footprint by 2028.

“Tom and his co-founder began their journey in 2003 with one Arkansas store, and because of Tom’s leadership, Slim Chickens has expanded into a global brand,” Dr. Tim Bisping, dean of the UCA College of Business, said. “We are privileged to have the support of the Davis Family to bring an exceptional leader like Tom Gordon to share his entrepreneurial vision and strategic focus with our students, faculty and community partners.”

The UCA campus is invited to attend, and the event is free and open to the public.

The Davis Family Lecture Series was established in 2010 through a gift from Granger and Jan Davis, and Milton and Claudia Davis. The series features prominent business leaders who have made a significant impact in an industry. As pillars of the UCA and Conway community, the Davis Family’s gift to the UCA Centennial Campaign: New Vision, New Century inspired a lecture series open to all students, faculty, staff and business community who wish to attend.

More information about the UCA College of Business and this special event is available at .